Ambassador Huckabee Clashes With Catholic, Orthodox Christians Over Christian Zionism
Patriarchs and Heads of Church in Jerusalem reaffirmed their pastoral authority over Holy Land Christians and said that those pushing a political agenda are harming the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem—representing the Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian communities in Israel and the broader region—issued a joint statement reaffirming their pastoral authority over Christians in the Holy Land. They noted that these ecclesial communities have “borne their sacred ministry across centuries with steadfast devotion.”
In their Jan. 17 statement, the church leaders warned that “Christian Zionism” and related “damaging ideologies” promoted by certain individuals in Israel and the region “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.”
“These undertakings have found favor among certain political actors in Israel and beyond who seek to push a political agenda which may harm the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East,” the statement continued. “Such actions constitute interference in the internal life of the churches and disregard the pastoral responsibility vested in the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem.” The patriarchs emphasized that they alone “represent the Churches and their flock in matters pertaining to Christian religious, communal, and pastoral life in the Holy Land.”
Reaffirming that the historic Apostolic Churches retain pastoral authority over Christians in the Holy Land, the patriarchs stressed that these churches have “borne their sacred ministry across centuries with steadfast devotion.”
Highlighting the importance of Christian unity, they cited Romans 12:5, which teaches that “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” They warned that claims to spiritual authority outside communion with the Church wound the Body of Christ and “burden the pastoral mission entrusted to the historic churches in the very land where our Lord lived, taught, suffered, and rose from the dead.”
Praying for divine protection, the patriarchs and Christian leaders declared, “May the Lord, who is the Shepherd and Guardian of souls, grant wisdom for the protection of His people and the safeguarding of His witness in this sacred land.”
In response, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Protestant known for his outspoken faith, issued a detailed post on X defending Christian Zionism. While affirming his respect for “traditional liturgical churches,” Huckabee added that “no sect of the Christian faith should claim exclusivity in speaking for Christians worldwide.” He described himself as part of a “global and growing evangelical tradition” emphasizing the authority of Scripture and “the faithfulness of God in keeping His covenants,” including “His covenant with Abraham and the Jewish people.”
Echoing a long-standing view among many evangelical Christians dating to the 19th century, Huckabee stated that support for the State of Israel is rooted in Holy Scripture and God’s covenant with the Jewish people. “Christians are followers of Christ and a Zionist simply accepts that the Jewish people have a right to live in their ancient, indigenous, and Biblical homeland,” he wrote. “It’s hard for me to understand why everyone who takes on the moniker ‘Christian’ would not also be a Zionist.”
Addressing criticism of “Christian Zionism,” Huckabee said the term is often used as an insult aimed at “free-church believers.” He defined a “Zionist” as someone who accepts that the Jewish people have a right to live in their “ancient, indigenous, and Biblical homeland,” explaining that this conviction reflects commitment to divine revelations made to “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” rather than endorsement of any particular government or policy.
The exchange followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s objections to the composition of the U.S.-led “Board of Peace,” which was formed under the Trump administration’s Gaza ceasefire framework and could include Russia. Netanyahu criticized the proposed Gaza Executive Board, describing it as “not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to Israeli policy.”
Holy Land Christian leaders have increasingly voiced alarm over the declining Christian population in Judea and Samaria. They cite economic hardship, violence by groups affiliated with Hamas and Hezbollah, and the expansion of Jewish settlements as contributing factors. A December 2025 report by the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem stated that the growth of such settlements in the West Bank—currently administered by Israel—has led to the displacement of indigenous Christians from the Holy Land.
On Jan. 9, Pope Leo XIV addressed diplomats accredited to the Holy See, warning that civilians in the Holy Land face a worsening crisis. Reaffirming his support for a two-state solution, the pontiff said it “remains the institutional perspective for meeting the legitimate aspirations for both peoples.”
The Pope added, “Yet sadly, there has been an increase in violence in the West Bank against the Palestinian civilian population, which has the right to live in peace in its own land.”
